Larry W. Smith President
Larry joined Bethesda Senior Living Communities as its President in early 2009. He has nearly 43 years of industry experience in senior housing and long-term care, managing individual properties to multi-site operations. Over his career, he has co-founded a large national long-term care company and co-founded and co-owned a successful rehab company. Larry’s desire for BSLC is to serve Christ by serving others. At BSLC we strive to serve others with the same servant’s heart that Christ demonstrates to all people.
Rick Summers Vice President
Rick has more than 30 years in the senior living industry, the last 12 of which have been with BSLC. Rick has an undergraduate degree in Finance and Business from Missouri State University and a Master’s degree in Gerontology and Health Service Management from Webster University in St. Louis. He has worked in both skilled and assisted living administration and served as Senior Vice President of Operations for a skilled nursing operator in the Midwest for 12 years before coming to BSLC. Starting out as a nurse aide when he was in high school, Rick fell in love with seniors and how every day is unique. Faith-based service means showing compassion to all those that we serve including residents, family members and staff.
Joshua E. Thomas Regional Vice President
Josh began working in senior living in 2006 after finding a calling in providing service to seniors. He went on to manage communities ranging from 24 residents to 300 residents, in addition to executive roles as an Operations Specialist and Professional Development Manager. He earned a degree in Economics, an Advanced Certificate in Gerontology and an Advanced Certificate in Senior Living Management. Josh’s belief in leadership starts with breaking the norm. A belief that leaders take the traditional leadership model and turn it upside down; instead of the people working to serve the leader, the leader works to serve the people.
Michelle Cox Ingerson RN, BSN Vice President of Health Services
As a graduate of Barnes College of Nursing at the University Missouri St. Louis, Michelle has 19 years of experience with 17 of those years in long-term care. During her time at Bethesda Senior Living, Michelle served first as the Health Services Director for our Ellisville community and was promoted to Regional Health Services Director. She considers it an honor and privilege to be able to work with a team that strives to provide the best quality care and a quality of life to our seniors while honoring our servant core values.
Kris Gillen Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Working in the senior living industry for over 10 years, Kris has a deep desire to connect with an under-served population of senior adults and a passion for people. Before joining Bethesda Senior Living Communities, Kris served seniors and their families as a Community Sales Director, Business Development Director and a Regional Director of Sales and Marketing. These various rolls ranged from small, free-standing memory care communities to large CCRCs. Kris believes that everyone deserves kindness and compassion and lives by the motto, “If you aren’t serving a senior, then serve someone who is”.
Andrew McCormick Regional Director of Operations
Andrew began his career with BSLC in April 2003 as a Marketing Director at The Gardens in Springfield, Missouri. Four years later, after receiving his Missouri Nursing Home Administrator’s license, he was promoted to Executive Director. In October 2013, Andrew moved into the position of Regional Director of Operations. Prior to joining the BSLC team, he completed a degree in Entertainment Management at Missouri State University. Andrew has been blessed by the many opportunities given by BSLC to serve our senior adults. He has also enjoyed nurturing and enriching the lives of his team.
Bill Schwingen Regional Director of Operations
Bill began his career in the senior care industry in 1998 as a Food and Beverage Director. At the time he wanted to remove himself from the restaurant industry and had no particular interest in working with seniors, which means the decision to take a job in the senior care field was for selfish reasons. After a few years, his daughter asked him if he had found his niche. Bill's answer was a resounding yes, and after some reflection he felt like he had wasted 20 years of my life not caring for seniors. Now he is doing what he loves! Bill serves as Executive Director of The Gardens at Barry Road, leads our staff mentorship program and provides regional operational support to BSLC's Midwest communities.
David McPhail RN, BSN Regional Director of Health Services
David began his career as a CNA and then earned his Bachelor's Degree in Nursing at Colorado State University-Pueblo. He has been in the medical field for over 20 years, with 9 of those being dedicated to the service of the senior population. Prior to joining the BSLC team, David spent over 5 years as a Health and Wellness Director in a community in Colorado Springs. David's parents were both RNs and he credits them with instilling the passion to serve others and the ability to appreciate that each interaction with residents, families, and peers presents the opportunity to learn and grow.
Lauren Scherer Regional Director of Sales & Marketing
Ask Lauren Scherer what she is passionate about and her answer will include “Service to others!” An advocate for older adults, Lauren began serving seniors 29 years ago as the Director of Activities in a Continuing Care Retirement Community. Through the years, she has been instrumental in opening three Memory Care Communities. She has enhanced the life of hundreds of elders through excellence in Life Enrichment Programs, and she has worked as a Senior Living Counselor; helping older adults find housing opportunities to meet their lifestyle needs. “What more can I do?” is not just an idea, but her way of life.
Tommy Saxon Area Director of Sales & Marketing
Tommy’s personal and professional goal is to passionately apply his gifts, skills, and experiences to all aspects of life. He came to senior living because of his affinity for seniors and his desire to help the families who are loving and supporting them through the aging process. Tommy believes that his fondness for seniors was born out of the much appreciated relationship he enjoyed with his own grandparents. He has witnessed and been a part of the beauty and challenges of the aging process and believes that it his calling is to help seniors and their families make living decisions that are sometimes difficult but oftentimes rewarding and renewing.
Brittney Moore Area Director of Health Services
Brittney has been a Registered Nurse for 24 years, the last 10 years of which have been with BSLC as the Health Services Director at our Kansas City Community. She has also been a mentor for the Health Services department for the past 8 years and serves as a board member for the Missouri League for Nursing. She loves the day to day caring of her residents but has fallen in love with the relationships that are made with residents, family and staff. Brittney considers it an honor to be a part of a team that focuses on enriching the lives of our seniors.
Bryan J. Beamer Construction & Facilities Director
Bryan has 31 years in the construction and maintenance industry as a Project Manager, Estimator, Business Owner and onsite Project Superintendent. Bryan currently holds a Colorado Masters Electrical License and a Colorado Journeymen Electrical License. Bryan has worked with the Bethesda team for more than 10 years and has a great understanding of residential and commercial construction projects. Bryan oversees maintenance and construction projects from planning stage to finish and specializes in preventive maintenance logistics of building operating systems. Bryan has a passion for creating comfortable, warm and inviting senior living communities that benefit the residents and the team.
Dan Knight Director of Maintenance Operations
Dan joined BSLC in 2006 with more than 20 years of experience in building maintenance of hotels, shopping centers and colleges. As Maintenance Director for The Gardens in Springfield, Missouri, Dan took pride in building a top-notch maintenance team and in making the community a beautiful, comfortable and safe home for our residents. In 2008, he began mentoring and assisting Maintenance Directors in other communities, and in 2015 was named Director of Maintenance Operations. Dan looks forward to meeting the challenges ahead and supporting all of our BSLC Maintenance Directors as we work to enrich the lives of our residents.